lemur wrote:meet up at the north trash fence at 9pm on saturday night to light off your sky lantern

just where, along the trash fence should we meet?it's pretty big.like, which side (it's a pentagon)Or, maybe, if you numbered the corners/points, starting at the north one from the greeters, at which point, or between which points?

it's a big perimeter, and, a clear location to meet would be helpful.

JKhttp://www.mudskippercafe.comWhen I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

and one more thing. does it bug anyone else just a little that in the midst of this art party, where spontaneity is key, she wants to set up an art project for the sole purpose of taking pictures of it. because you know, after a day or so, there really isn't anything left to take pictures of out there.

â€œPromise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." ~ Christopher Robin to Pooh

In the last JRS, we included a post about a project that will be using Chinese sky lanterns ... those paper lanterns that you light a little candle inside and let them float up into the air ... they're really pretty as they drift away, glowing.

The problem is -- and thanks to our Fire Art Safety Team (FAST) for alerting us -- that they're also SUPER dangerous, especially in Black Rock City.

Beyond the MOOP factor, they can float off into the city and light a tent on fire ... and they can float off into the surrounding mountain ranges and start a wildfire. In fact, with the prevailing winds as they are, this is highly likely.

So, DO NOT USE CHINESE FIRE LANTERNS IN BLACK ROCK CITY. AT ALL. EVER.

Since everyone here has pointed out what a bad idea these are, maybe you should find an alternative?

What about using those little LED tea lights instead of candles, and using kites instead of lanterns (because heat is needed to make the lanterns float, and obviously LED lights don't give off heat). The kites would catch the wind and float (hopefully) and the LED lights would give a glow.

Oh, and tether the kites, so no one has to clean up your mess later on.

I think the heat from the flame is integral to the lanterns to be able to float. Same principle as a hot air balloon. And tethering seems like an equally bad idea as the extra weight og the tether would also inhibit lift. Not to mention having to have to deal with those things as they fall back to earth still lit.

NellieX wrote:Since everyone here has pointed out what a bad idea these are, maybe you should find an alternative?

What about using those little LED tea lights instead of candles, and using kites instead of lanterns (because heat is needed to make the lanterns float, and obviously LED lights don't give off heat). The kites would catch the wind and float (hopefully) and the LED lights would give a glow.

Oh, and tether the kites, so no one has to clean up your mess later on.

JKhttp://www.mudskippercafe.comWhen I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

jkisha wrote:I think the heat from the flame is integral to the lanterns to be able to float. Same principle as a hot air balloon. And tethering seems like an equally bad idea as the extra weight og the tether would also inhibit lift. Not to mention having to have to deal with those things as they fall back to earth still lit.

NellieX wrote:Since everyone here has pointed out what a bad idea these are, maybe you should find an alternative?

What about using those little LED tea lights instead of candles, and using kites instead of lanterns (because heat is needed to make the lanterns float, and obviously LED lights don't give off heat). The kites would catch the wind and float (hopefully) and the LED lights would give a glow.

Oh, and tether the kites, so no one has to clean up your mess later on.

Wouldn't a kite structure allow them to still float? Or do you think the LEDs would be too heavy?

I don't think kites would have the same effect. But it could be it's own effect. Someone already does something like this with a string of balloons that seem to glow in the dark.

However, I'm thinking the OP is trying to create some specific effect more so that she can take her photographs, so lighting and flying kits would be a whole lot more work. Not sure she'd be into that both because of the added work and it wouldn't look anything like she envisioned for her photo project. But who knows, I have certainly been wrong many times before.

NellieX wrote:

jkisha wrote:I think the heat from the flame is integral to the lanterns to be able to float. Same principle as a hot air balloon. And tethering seems like an equally bad idea as the extra weight og the tether would also inhibit lift. Not to mention having to have to deal with those things as they fall back to earth still lit.

NellieX wrote:Since everyone here has pointed out what a bad idea these are, maybe you should find an alternative?

What about using those little LED tea lights instead of candles, and using kites instead of lanterns (because heat is needed to make the lanterns float, and obviously LED lights don't give off heat). The kites would catch the wind and float (hopefully) and the LED lights would give a glow.

Oh, and tether the kites, so no one has to clean up your mess later on.

Wouldn't a kite structure allow them to still float? Or do you think the LEDs would be too heavy?

JKhttp://www.mudskippercafe.comWhen I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

jkisha wrote: Someone already does something like this with a string of balloons that seem to glow in the dark.

I dunno if we are talking abour the same thing, but last year.. wow.. that was.. one of the coolest random things. The string of blue LEDs way in the distance at night suspended by balloons, with one end each held by a guy on a bike. Loved.. it. Wow.

[quote="talkfahrenheit"]While this would be entirely beautiful to see, it is extremely dangerous. I was at a festival this weekend where somebody released [b]one [/b] fire lantern. The wind carried it straight to the trees and got stuck. It sat there for a few minutes not moving and finally another gust of wind came and managed to move it out of the trees.

Granted, there are no trees on the playa. There are plenty of tents, lots of flammable substances, and tall art projects in which the lanterns could get stuck in.

Not to keep on keeping on, but a few years ago the man was set on fire early as a prank. Yeah, it was really cool to see the man burn twice, but it is such a large structure that really needs to burn with fire crew prepared. Not to mention all of the hard work that people put into building it. It would be unfortunate if some of the lanterns got caught on him or in him and started an early burn.

Everybody loves seeing pretty lights in the sky, but nobody likes seeing their tent burned down or fellow burners hurt. If you really want to do this, try to execute it in a way that is still beautiful, but safe. Potentially tie the balloons onto fishing line or some clear string so they are released and fly, but stay in one place floating until they fall?[/quote]

Ha! Hey I came here to tell the same story....Guess you were at the Strummit, too That was so sketchy, but the sigh of relief from the crowd when the wind took it away was kind of exciting. What a great summer, huh? best of both worlds. PINK SUNDAY and BANJOS...and no fire lanterns....Those things would be great,....in antarctica!